(NGC) - Best way to book flights and cars?

[Gliderjohn]

Looking at going to see my mother again in March and thinking of flying this time. Haven't flown or rented a car in over a decade. What are the best methods these days of booking flights and rental cars? Us old farts need help in this advanced 2020.
GliderJohn

[oldbike54]

Looking at going to see my mother again in March and thinking of flying this time. Haven't flown or rented a car in over a decade. What are the best methods these days of booking flights and rental cars? Us old farts need help in this advanced 2020.
GliderJohn

 Probably thru Priceline or similar site like Expedia .

 Dusty

[Scud]

I travel quite a bit for work. I use Expedia.com or Kayak.com when I am not otherwise booking directly with an airline. You can create an account, then you will get email updates or text updates, which can be pretty handy.

[Gliderjohn]

Is there any advantage any more to booking directly with the airline?
GliderJohn

[Moparnut72]

I don't know about airfare but Expedia always saved me money on hotel rooms when I traveled for county business.
kk

[wirespokes]

I need to figure out the same thing. Googling is a great time waster when it comes to airfare.

One thing I found out - sometime this fall, in order to fly we'll have to either have a special addition to our driver's license or use a passport. The clamps are tightening...

[Turin]

I've been flying for work the past 3 years. PITA.  My wife works for American Airlines ( prev. America West, US Airways) and has taught me a couple of things.
1. Expedia guarantees nothing. When they screw up your reservation, you have no recourse. SOL. I see it all the time. I usually book a La Quinta through their website and pick a room on the second floor. first floor rooms get pet owners ( dogs ), and you can experience dog smell and noise.
2. the flights are cheaper the further out you book them. I book them directly through the airline. I like American because I like to pick my seat. Some others offer this too. ( not southwest)
3. I like national or enterprise. Avis is good too.

[elvisboy77]

Flights.google.com is really nice, shows a calendar with daily pricing.  However, many of the search sites exclude some airlines, such as Southwest, so don't assume searches are "everything".

You can often book a car thru the airline.

[Bulldog9]

My wife travels all the time for work and books all her travel through southwest.com.

Southwest has an open seating policy so you have to check in as early as possible to get a good seating group. They have a no change fee policy which is great and pretty decent rates.

I've also been very happy with the American Express travel services if you have an American Express card.

As others have said, if you use Travelocity or Expedia or Priceline, etc. you're stuck with what you got. You can save money, but the trade-off is your hosed if you have to cancel or change a flight or have other issues.

[Aaron D.]

For hotels-I've used Expedia, Booking etc. Often cheaper talking directly to small places if you know where you plan to stay. Heck one of the best bookings I made was using Google Assistant, didn't have to touch the phone.

Most flying I've done lately has been with airlines I have relationships with, but using the same resources as above works. Southwest has been reliable in-country.

[AJ Huff]

I've never found any advantage to booking other than directly with the airline, hotel, or rental agency. I usually use Orbitz to compare who has the best rates and then I book directly.

-AJ

[Daniel Kalal]

John, in our particular case, the choice is largely defined by where you're going.  Wichita doesn't offer much competition.